The survey’s findings suggest that twice as many girls are self-harming as boys and 46% of children that are attracted to the same gender or both genders said they had self-harmed.

Based on these figures, the Children’s Society estimates that approximately 110,000 children, age 14, may have self-harmed in the UK.

Children’s Society Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said: ‘It is deeply worrying that so many children are unhappy to the extent that they are self-harming.

‘Worries about how they look are a big issue, especially for girls, but this report shows other factors such as how they feel about their sexuality and gender stereotypes may be linked to their unhappiness.’

Addressing the need for action, Reed added: ‘Early support for vulnerable children and families in the community, which can help prevent mental health problems from developing, is also vital, and ministers must urgently address the £2 billion funding shortfall facing council children’s services departments by 2020.’

Two in five GPs have experienced mental health problems

Research by Mind has found that two in five GPs have experienced mental health difficulties.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, of the 1000 doctors questioned, 40% of them said they had dealt with issues such as depression or anxiety.

The survey found that 48% of GPs wouldn’t ask a colleague for support, with 86% saying they would rather turn to friends or family.

Vicki Nash, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Mind, said: ‘These figures are really concerning.

We knew from talking to primary care staff that many of them were experiencing poor mental health but hadn’t realised just how prevalent mental health problems were among GPs.’

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘It’s a terrible irony that GPs, the gatekeepers of the NHS who spend their lives caring for others, are often suffering in silence about their mental health and don’t feel as though they’re able to reach out and ask for help.’

Does mental distress increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke?

A new study, published by the American Heart Association, has linked anxiety and depression to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

The large-scale study, which surveyed 221,677 participants in Australia, found that high psychological distress was associated with a 44% increased risk of stroke among women.

Meanwhile, men aged 45 to 79 with very high psychological distresses experienced a 30% increased risk of heart attack compared to those with very low distresses.

The research included participants who had not experienced a heart attack or stroke at the start of the study. During a follow up period of over four years, 4,573 heart attacks and 2,421 strokes occurred.

The American Heart Association report that these findings contribute to the existing research connecting psychological conditions to heart attack and stroke risks. However, they also highlight that ‘previous studies have produced inconsistent findings, and the interplay between mental and physical health is poorly understood.’

Variables such as ‘smoking and poor diet’ made it difficult for researchers to conclude if deteriorating cardiovascular health was directly connected to mood disorders.